Seating device and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A manufacturing method of a seating device includes manufacturing an outer skin; manufacturing a core member via a foaming process; wrapping the core member in the outer skin, coupling a mounting plate at a bottom surface of the core member; and selectively coupling a mounting structure to the mounting plate to form the seating device. The outer skin is constructed to have a top skin layer adhered on a top surface of the core member, a side skin layer adhered on a side surface of the core member, and a bottom skin layer adhered on a bottom surface of the core member. Particularly, the top skin layer of the outer skin is adhered on the top surface of the core member edge-to-edge to initially align and retain the outer skin on the core member.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims benefit ofpriority under 35U.S.C.§ 120 to U.S. non-provisional application,application Ser. No. 17/218,095, filed Mar. 30, 2021, and a Continuationapplication that claims benefit of priority under 35U.S.C.§ 120 to U.S.non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 17/384,683, filed Jul.23, 2021, which are incorporated herewith by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a seat frame, and more particularly toa seating device and manufacturing method thereof, which comprises twowing supports sidewardly and upwardly extended from a seat body toprovide pain relief in legs, butt, and tailbone of a user.

Description of Related Arts

A seat is a device commonly incorporated with a chair, stool, or sportequipment for supporting buttocks of a user. Most of the seatsincorporate with cushion to form seat cushions to let the user sittingmore comfortably. Particularly, some seat cushions claim as ergonomiccushions which can help relief tailbone pressure, provide lumbarsupport, and improve posture. For example, the seat cushion isincorporated with a chair frame to form a chair seat A1, as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, wherein the chair seat A1 provides a widen and flatseating surface to support the buttocks of the user. However, when thechair seat A1 is seated, the buttocks of the user are flatten that twoouter sides of the user's buttocks are unsupported by the chair seat A1.As a result, the user is supported on the chair seat A1 in an unbalancemanner. In other words, when the user's body or the user's leg slightlymove either to the left or right, a center of the mass of the user willshift correspondingly. However, the chair seat A1 cannot provide a buttside support corresponding the movement of the user.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the seat cushion incorporated with a stool toform a stool seat A2, wherein two side portion of the stool seat A2 areextended downwardly. Similar to the chair seat A1, the stool seat A2cannot support the two outer sides of the user's buttocks, such that theuser is supported on the stool seat A2 in an unbalance manner especiallydue to the user's movement. For example, when the user sits slumped toone side with spine bent or keep the knees, ankles or arm crossed, theuser will sit on the chair seat A for stool seat A2 in an unbalancemanner to create stresses at the user's buttocks. Furthermore, in orderfor the user to self balance his or her body, the user must lean his orher upper body forward to reduce the stress at two sides of thebuttocks. It is known that the user must sit up straight to prevent thelower back strain and tailbone pain. The lean forward sitting posturewill cause the spine curvature problem of the user as shown in FIGS. 1Band 2B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the seat cushion incorporated with a bicycleto form a bicycle saddle. Accordingly, the bicycle saddle A3 generallyhas a long narrow shape, wherein the bicycle saddle A3 totally cannotsupport the two outer sides of the user's buttocks. Therefore, most ofthe users experience discomfort when sitting on the bicycle saddle A3.Especially the bicycle saddle A3 is a cushioning saddle designed forrecreational cycling and cruising, the bicycle saddle A3 cannot wellsupport the user when pedaling the bicycle, such that the center of themass of the user will shift correspondingly. For example, when the leftpedal is pressed by a left leg of the user, the center of mass of theuser will shift to the right for body balancing purpose, such that thestress point will create at the right buttock of the user. Likewise,when the right pedal is pressed by a right leg of the user, the centerof mass of the user will shift to the left body, such that the stresspoint SP will create at the left buttock of the user while the rightbuttock US of the user is unsupported as shown in FIG. 3B. However, thetwo outer sides of the user's buttocks are unsupported by the bicyclesaddle, the stresses at the buttocks will create pain in legs, butt, andtailbone of the user.

As a result, none of the seat cushion provides enough buttock supportdue to the user movement. Therefore, there is a need for a seat cushionthat provides enough buttock support to provide pain relief in legs,butt, and tailbone of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a seating device,which comprises two wing supports sidewardly and upwardly extended froma seat body to provide pain relief in legs, butt, and tailbone of auser.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a manufacturing methodof a seating device, which is easy to manufacture to form the seat bodywith the wing supports.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein each of the wing supports forms a basin shaped buttocksupporting surface to provide a full contact surface and support for thebuttock of the user.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a manufacturing methodof a seating device, wherein the basin shaped buttock supporting surfaceis easily configured via the mold process.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a manufacturing methodof a seating device, wherein the core member is perfectly wrapped in theouter skin to ensure the surface contour of the seating device.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein the stress points of the buttocks of the user are located withinthe wing supports to reduce the stresses created at the buttocks of theuser when the user sits on the seating device.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device, whichhas an indented channel indented on the seating device for ventilationand for keeping pressure off of the crotch area of the user when theuser sits on the seating device.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein the user is able to maintain in balance manner when the usersits slumped to one side with spine bent, keep the knees, ankles or armcrossed, or any body movement.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein the wing supports are able to concurrently and sidewardly moveto selectively adjust a distance between the wing supports so as toselectively adjust a width of the seating device for different hip sizesof the users.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein the seating device is able to incorporate with any existingframe to form a seating apparatus. For example, the seating device iscoupled to a chair to form a chair seat, the seating device is coupledto a stool to form a stool seat, and the seating device is coupled to abicycle to form a bicycle saddle.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device, whichdoes not require to alter the original structural design of the existingframe, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the frameincorporating with the seating device.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a seating device,wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ inthe present invention in order to achieve the above mentionedadvantages. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides aneconomic and efficient solution for well supporting the buttocks of theuser to provide pain relief in legs, butt, and tailbone of the user.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a seating device, comprising:

a seat body having a top seat supporting surface;

two wing supports sidewardly extended from two sides of the seat bodyrespectively, wherein each of the wing supports has a top buttocksupporting surface upwardly and sidewardly extended from the top seatsupporting surface of the seat body to a side tip of the wing support,and a bottom retention surface inclinedly and upwardly extended to theside tip of the wing support for reinforcing the wing support in a tiltup manner so as to prevent the wing support being sagged down when thewing support is pressured; and

a mounting base coupled at a bottom surface of the seat body formounting to a frame, such that when the user sits on the seat body, twobuttocks of the user are supported by the wing supports respectively.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a method of manufacturing a seating device,comprising the following steps.

(A) Manufacture an outer skin, having a bottom opening, wherein the step(A) comprises the following steps.

(A.1) Cut a top skin layer, a side skin layer, and a bottom skin layerinto predetermined shapes.

(A.2) Stitch an edge of the top skin layer with an upper edge of theside skin layer.

(A.3) Stitch a lower edge of the side skin layer with an edge of thebottom skin layer to form a pocket.

(B) Manufacture at least one core member via a foaming process, whereinthe core member is configured to have a top surface, a side surface anda bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the core member has aconcave configuration.

(C) Wrapping the core member in the outer skin, the step (C) comprisesthe following steps.

(C.1) Apply adhesive on the core member and the outer skin.

(C.2) Fold the outer skin inside-out to receive the core member throughthe bottom opening of the outer skin.

(C.3) Adhere the top skin layer of the outer skin on the top surface ofthe core member edge-to-edge to initially align and retain the outerskin on the core member.

(C.4) Fold back the side skin layer to adhere the side skin layer on theside surface of the core member.

(C.5) Adhere the bottom skin layer on the bottom surface of the coremember, wherein an opening edge of the bottom opening is adhered on thebottom surface of the core member, such that a seat body is formed tohave a top seat supporting surface on the top surface of the core memberoverlapped with the top skin layer.

(D) Couple a mounting plate at a bottom surface of the seat body.

(E) Selectively couple a mounting structure to the mounting plate toform the seating device.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional seat cushion of a chair.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a conventional seat cushion of a stool.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a conventional seat cushion of a bicycle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seating device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a rear view of the seating device according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the seating device according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the seating device according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the seating device according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating two sidebuttocks of the user being supported by the wing supports of the seatingdevice respectively.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the seating device being used in a stoolaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating the user sits up straight on the seating device to protectthe spine of the user.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the seating device being used in a bicycleaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention,illustrating the user supports on the seating device in a balancemanner.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative mode of the wing support of theseating device according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the alternative mode of the wing support ofthe seating device according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a manufacturing method of the seating deviceaccording to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of the seating device according tothe above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments areprovided in the following description only as examples and modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principlesdefined in the following description would be applied to otherembodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applicationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B of the drawings, a seating deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated, wherein the seating device comprises a seat body 10, twowing supports 20 and a mounting base 30.

The seat body 10 has a top seat supporting surface 11, a bottom surface12, and an indented channel 13 indented on the top seat supportingsurface 11 from a rear end of the seat body 10 toward a front end alonga centerline of the seat body 10.

The two wing supports 20 are configured to support the buttocks of theuser, wherein the wing supports 20 serve as the hip supports to preventany unwanted movement of the user when the user sits on the seatingdevice of the present invention. Particularly, the seat body 10incorporates the wing supports 20 to provide lateral support and weightdistribution for maintaining a sitting posture of the user in abalancing and stabling manner so as to provide pain relief in legs,butt, and tailbone of the user especially sitting for an extendedperiod.

The two wing supports 20 are sidewardly extended from two sides of theseat body 10 respectively, wherein each of the wing supports 20 has atop buttock supporting surface 21 upwardly and sidewardly extended fromthe top seat supporting surface 11 of the seat body 10 to a side tip 201of the wing support 20, and a bottom retention surface 22 inclinedly andupwardly extended to the side tip 201 of the wing support 20 forreinforcing the wing support 20 in a tilt up manner so as to prevent thewing support 20 being sagged down when the wing support 20 is pressured,i.e. when the user sits thereon.

The mounting base 30 is coupled at the bottom surface 12 of the seatbody 10, wherein the mounting base 30 is adapted to mount at anyexisting frame. For example, when the mounting base 30 is coupled at astool frame, as shown in FIG. 8 , the seating device of the presentinvention serves as a stool seat. When the mounting base 30 is coupledat a bicycle frame, as shown in FIG. 9 , the seating device of thepresent invention serves as a bicycle saddle. Accordingly, the mountingbase 30 comprises a mounting plate 31 coupled at the bottom surface 12of the seat body 10 and a mounting structure 32 to mount at the existingframe. Therefore, different mounting structures 32 can be selectivelymounted to the mounting plate 31 to selectively couple to differentexisting frames. In other words, when the stool mounting structure ismounted to the mounting plate 31, the seating device of the presentinvention can mount to the stool to serve as a stool seat as shown inFIG. 8 . When the bicycle mounting structure is mounted to the mountingplate 31, the seating device of the present invention can mount to thebicycle to serve as a bicycle saddle as shown in FIG. 9 .

The seat body 10 has an enlarged seat portion 14 and an elongated headportion 15 integrally and frontwardly extended from the seat portion 14,wherein a width of the seat portion 14 is larger than a width of thehead portion 15. The top seat supporting surface 11 of the seat body 10is defined at a top surface of the seat portion 14, such that when theuser sits on the seat body 10, the buttocks of the user are supported onthe seat portion 14, while the head portion 15 is extended between thethighs of the user so as to allow the leg movement of the user. It isworth mentioning that the indented channel 13 indented on top surface ofthe seat portion 14 and is extended toward the head portion 15 of theseat body 10.

In one embodiment, the wing supports 20 are integrally extended from theseat body 10 to form a one-piece seating member. Accordingly, the seatbody 10 is embodied in form of a bicycle saddle. Generally, the seatbody 10 has an isosceles triangular shape, wherein the wing supports 20are extended from two equal sides of the seat body 10 at rear portionsthereof respectively. Particularly, the wings supports 20 are integrallyand sidewardly extended from two sides of the seat portion 14 of theseat body 15 respectively, such that the head portion 15 is frontwardlyextended between the wing supports 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the top buttock supporting surface 21 ofeach of the wing supports 20 has a curvature upwardly curving to a sideedge 211 of the top supporting surface 21 and upwardly curving to a rearedge 212 of the top buttock supporting surface 21. Preferably, thecurvature of the top buttock supporting surface 21 of each of the wingsupports 20 is downwardly curing toward a front edge 213 of the topbuttock supporting surface 21. Therefore, when the user sits on theseating device of the present invention, outer portions of the buttocksof the user are supported by the upward curing side edges 211 of the topsupporting surfaces 21, rear portions of the buttocks of the user aresupported by the upward curing rear edges 212 of the top supportingsurfaces 21, front portions of the buttocks of the user are rested onthe downward curing front edges 213 of the top supporting surfaces 21 toallow leg movements of the user. In other words, the top supportingsurface 21 of each of the wing supports 20 forms a basin configurationto provide a full contact surface to support the buttocks of the user asshown in FIG. 7 , while the user is able to freely move his or her legsbetween a front portion of the seat body 10 as shown in FIG. 9 . It isworth mentioning that a distance between the side tips 201 of the wingsupports 20 is configured not smaller than a hip size of the user.Furthermore, since the rear portions of the buttocks of the user aresupported by the upward curing rear edges 212 of the top supportingsurfaces 21 when sitting on the seating device of the present invention,the user does not have to lean forward his or her body for bodybalancing manner, such that the user is able to sit up straight toprevent the lower back strain and tailbone pain as shown in FIG. 8 .

It is worth mentioning that when the user sits on the seating device ofthe present invention, the weight W of the user as the downward forcewill break down into two outward forces at the buttocks of the user tothe wing supports 20, as shown in FIG. 7 , wherein the outward forcesapplied at the points of the wing supports 20 are defined as two supportpoints respectively. The support points are also known as two stresspoints P where stress will create at the buttock of the user.Accordingly, the stress points P at the buttocks of the user are locatedat and supported by the top buttock supporting surfaces 21 of the wingsupports 20, as shown in FIG. 7 . Therefore, due to the unbalancedsitting posture, such as the user sits slumped to one side with spinebent, keep the knees, ankles or arm crossed, or any body movement, thestress point at the buttock of the user will be well supported by one ofthe top buttock supporting surfaces 21 to provide pain relief in legs,butt, and tailbone of the user.

Accordingly, when the user sits on the seating device of the presentinvention, the downward force, i.e. the weight of the user, will applyon the seat body 10 and the wing supports 20 at the same time.Accordingly, the wing supports 20 are flatten and downwardly pressed bythe weight of the user. If the downward pressure is great enough,especially when the weight of the user is applied on one of the wingsupports 20, the wing support 20 may be further pressed downwardly todeform the shape of the wing support 20 so as to sag down the wingsupport 20. As a result, the wing supports 20 will loss thesupportability. According to the preferred embodiment, the bottomretention surfaces 22 are configured to reinforce the top buttocksupporting surfaces 21. The bottom retention surface 22 is inclinedlyand upwardly extended to the side tip 201 of the wing support 20 tosupport the top buttock supporting surface 21, such that the wingsupport 20 is reinforced by the bottom retention surface 22 in a tiltmanner.

It is worth mentioning that each of the wing supports 20 further has abottom extension surface extended from the bottom surface 12 of the seatbody 10 to the bottom retention surface 22. In other words, the bottomside of the wing support 20A is constructed to have the bottom extensionsurface and the bottom retention surface 22, wherein the size of themounting plate 31 of the mounting base 30 can be enlarged to not onlycouple at the bottom surface 12 of the seat body 10 but also the bottomextension surfaces of the wing supports 20 so as to enhance thesupportability and rigidness of the mounting base 30 to the seatingdevice of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the bottom retention surface 22 of each of the wingsupports 20 is a convex surface curving toward a front side and a rearside of the wing support 20. In other words, the peak of the convexbottom retention surface 22 is defined at the side tip 201 of the wingsupport 20. The convex bottom retention surface 22 is further configuredto reinforce the wing support 20 in a tilt up manner so as to preventthe wing support 20 being deformed when the support the top buttocksupporting surface 21 is pressed.

Furthermore, a thickness of each of the wing supports 20 is graduallyreduced to the side tip 201 of the wing support 20 in response to theside tip 201 thereof. The thickness of the wing support 20 is defined asa distance between the top buttock supporting surface 21 and the bottomretention surface 21 of the wing support 20. It is worth mentioning thatdue to the three-dimensional configuration of the wing support 20, thewing support 20 will have different thicknesses at different portion. Asthe upward curing side edge 211 of the top supporting surface 21, thethickness of the wing support 20 at the front tip thereof is smallerthan the thickness of the wing support 20 at the rear tip thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the side tip 201 of each of the wing supports 20has a surface configuration, wherein the side tip 201 is inclinedlyextended from the bottom retention surface 22 to the top buttocksupporting surface 21. Particularly, the side tip 201 is upwardly andinwardly extended from the bottom retention surface 22 to the topbuttock supporting surface 21. The side tip 201 of each of the wingsupports 20 is a convex surface curving toward the front side and therear side of the wing support 20. Therefore, an angle between the bottomretention surface 22 at the peak line and the side tip 201 at the peakline is an acute angle to support the wing support 20. It is worthmentioning that the side tip 201 of each of the wing supports 20 iscurving rearwardly to the rear tip of the wing support 20, and iscurving frontwardly to the front tip of the wing support 20.

As shown in FIG. 6 , each of the wing supports 20 comprises a coremember 23 which is made of foam material and an outer skin 24 enclosingand compressing the core member 23 therein so as to retain a contour ofthe core member 23. Accordingly, since the wing supports 20 areintegrally extended from the seat body 10 to form a one-piece seatingmember, the core members 23 of the wing supports 20 are integrallyformed with a core member of the seat body 11 to form a one pieceseating core member. Likewise, the outer skins 24 of the wing supports20 are integrally formed with a skin of the seat body 11 to form aone-piece seating skin.

According to the preferred embodiment, the core member 23 is made ofhigh density memory foam to well support the weight W of the user. Thecore member 23 is wrapped within the outer skin 24 to retain the contourof the core member 23. As shown in FIG. 6 , the outer skin 24 isconstructed to have a top skin layer 241, a side skin layer 242, and abottom skin layer 243. Accordingly, the top buttock supporting surface21 of the wing support 20 is overlaid by the top skin layer 241. Thebottom retention surface 22 of the wing support 20 is overlaid by thebottom skin layer 243. The side tip, front tip and rear tip of the wingsupport 20 are overlaid by the side skin layer 242. An edge of the topskin layer 241 is stitched with an upper edge of the side skin layer 242to define a first stitching line 244. A lower edge of the side skinlayer 242 is stitched with an edge of the bottom skin layer 243 todefine a second stitching line 245. The top skin layer 241, the sideskin layer 242, and the bottom skin layer 243 are made of stretchablematerial to provide a predetermined stretch ability when the core member23 is deformed due to the weight of the user. Furthermore, the stretchability of the outer skin 24 ensures the core member 23 being enclosedand compressed in the outer skin 24 so as to retain the contour of thecore member 23 and to prevent the over-deformation of the core member23.

It is worth mentioning that the top skin layer 241, the side skin layer242, and the bottom skin layer 243 can be made of different material.The top skin layer 241 should be made of non-slipping material toprevent any slipping when the user sits and contacts with the top skinlayer 241. The side skin layer 242 can be made of durable material tofurther provide an additional support of the top buttock supportingsurface 21. The bottom skin layer 243 can be made of breathablematerial. For example, the top skin layer 241 and the side skin layer242 can be made of synthetic leather, and the bottom skin layer 243 canbe made of nylon or synthetic fibers.

In order to wrap the core member 23 in the outer skin 24, the top skinlayer 241, the side skin layer 242, and the bottom skin layer 243 arestitched with each other to form a pocket to match with the contour ofthe core member 23. Accordingly, the pocket of the outer skin 24 has abottom opening 240. Then, by slightly compressing and deforming the coremember 23, the core member 23 can be received in the pocket of the outerskin 24 through the bottom opening 240. By aligning the first stitchingline 244 with an edge between a top surface and a side surface of thecore member 23, the core member 23 is alignedly wrapped within the outerskin 24 to define the top buttock supporting surface 21 and the side tip201 of the wing support 20. Likewise, by aligning the second stitchingline 245 with an edge between the side surface and a bottom surface ofthe core member 23, the core member 23 is alignedly wrapped within theouter skin 24 to define the side tip 201 and the bottom retentionsurface 22 of the wing support 20. In other words, the first stitchingline 244 is defined along an edge between the top buttock supportingsurface 21 and the side tip 201 of the wing support 20. The secondstitching line 245 is defined along an edge between the side tip 201 andthe bottom retention surface 22 of the wing support 20. Once the coremember 23 is wrapped in the outer skin 24, an opening edge 2401 of thebottom opening 240 is located at the bottom surface 12 of the seat body10, such that when the mounting plate 31 is coupled at the bottomsurface 12 of the seat body 10, the opening edge 2401 of the pocket ofthe outer skin 24 is enclosed and sealed by the mounting plate 31.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative mode of the wing supports 20A,wherein the wings supports 20 are movably and sidewardly extended fromtwo sides of the seat portion 14 of the seat body 15 respectively. Eachof the wings supports 20A have the same structural configuration as inthe above mentioned wing support 20 except the wing supports 20A and theseat body 10 are separated components according to the alternative modeof the present invention.

Accordingly, each of the wing support 20A is sidewardly moved from theseat body 10 in an controllably adjusting manner to selectively adjust adistance between the wing support 20A and the seat body 10.Particularly, the wings supports 20A are synchronizedly moved withrespect to the seat body 10, such that the wing supports 20A areconcurrently moved toward the seat body 10 to reduce the distancebetween the side tips 201 of the wing supports 20A. Likewise, the wingsupports 20A are concurrently moved away from the seat body 10 toincrease the distance between the side tips 201 of the wing supports20A. Therefore, the overall width of the seating device of the presentinvention is adjustable by adjusting the distance between the side tips201 of the wing supports 20A to fit different users having different hipsizes.

As shown in FIG. 10 , an adjustable channel is defined between each ofthe wing supports 20A and the seat body 10, wherein a width of theadjustable channel is reduced when the wing support 20A is moved towardthe seat body 10 while the width of the adjustable channel is increasedwhen the wing support 20A is moved away from the seat body 10.

As shown in FIG. 11 , the wing supports 20A are moved in a synchronizedmanner via an adjustable assembly 40A, wherein the adjustable assembly40A comprises two affixing members 41A affixed at two bottom retentionsurfaces 22 of the wing supports 20A respectively, a threaded shaft 42Arotatably extended through the affixing members 41A, and an adjustingwheel 43A rotatably coupled at the threaded shaft 42A, wherein thethreaded shaft 42A has two opposing extending thread portions extendingtoward two ends thereof. When the adjusting wheel 43A is rotated at onedirection, the threaded shaft 42A is driven to rotate to concurrentlypush the affixing members 41A away from each other so as to increase thedistance between the wing supports 20A. When the adjusting wheel 43A isrotated at an opposite direction, the threaded shaft 42A is driven torotate to concurrently pull the affixing members 41A toward each otherso as to reduce the distance between the wing supports 20A. Theadjustable assembly 40A further comprises two threaded sleeves 44Aformed at the affixing members 41A to rotatably engage with the opposingextending thread portions of the threaded shaft 42A respectively. Inother words, the threaded shaft 42A is rotatably extended through thethreaded sleeves 44A, wherein the adjusting wheel 43A is located betweenthe threaded sleeves 44A as shown in FIG. 11 .

The adjustable assembly 40A further comprises two guiding members 45Aaffixed at two bottom retention surfaces 22 of the wing supports 20Arespectively, and a guiding shaft 46A slidably extended through theguiding members 45A. It is worth mentioning that the threaded shaft 42Aand the guiding shaft 46A are spaced apart from each other. Preferably,the threaded shaft 42A is extended at rear portions of the wing supports20A while the guiding shaft 46A is extended at front portions of thewing supports 20A to maximize a distance between the threaded shaft 42Aand the guiding shaft 46A. Therefore, when the wing supports 20A aresidewardly moved via the threaded shaft 42A, the wing supports 20A areguided to move in a stable manner via the guiding shaft 46A.

In order to manufacture the seating device, the present inventionfurther provides a manufacturing method comprising the following steps.

(1) Manufacture the outer skin 24. Accordingly, the outer skin 24 ismade by the steps of (1.1) cutting the top skin layer 241, the side skinlayer 242, and the bottom skin layer 243 into predetermined shapes,(1.2) stitching the edge of the top skin layer 241 with the upper edgeof the side skin layer 242, and (1.3) stitching the lower edge of theside skin layer 242 with the edge of the bottom skin layer 243. It isworth mentioning that when the wing supports 20 are integrated with theseat body 10, the top skin layer 241, the side skin layer 242, and thebottom skin layer 243 of the wing support 20 are integrated with the topskin layer, the side skin layer, and the bottom skin layer of the seatbody 10 to form a top layer, a side layer and a bottom layer, as shownin FIG. 6 . Therefore, the outer skin 24 also forms a pocket of the seatbody 10, wherein the outer skin 24 is constructed to have the top layer,the side layer, and the bottom layer as such that the top skin layer241, the side skin layer 242, and the bottom skin layer 243 to enclosethe seat body 10 and the wing supports 20 together.

(2) Manufacture the core member 23. Accordingly, a raw material isdisposed in a mold and is foamed to form the core member 23 via afoaming process. In other words, the core member 23 is shaped and sizedaccording to the mold. In one embodiment, the core member 23 are coreelements of the wing supports 20 and a core element of the seat body 10integrated together.

(3) Wrap the core member 23 in the outer skin 24. Accordingly, the outerskin 24 is folded inside-out to receive core member 23 therein.Preferably, an adhering agent is initially applied on the top surface,side surface and bottom surface of the core member 23. The top layer ofthe outer skin 24 is adhered on the top surface of the core member 23 toinitially align and retain the outer skin 24 on the core member 23.Then, by slightly compressing the core member 23 and unfolding the sidelayer and the bottom layer of the outer skin 24 to overlap on the sidesurface and the bottom layer of the core member 23, the core member 23is wrapped within the outer skin 24.

(4) Couple the mounting plate 31 at the bottom surface 12 of the seatbody 10. It is worth mentioning that since the opening edge 2401 of thebottom opening 240 of the outer skin 24 is folded at the bottom surface12 of the seat body 10, the opening edge 2401 of the outer skin 24 ismounted and sealed by the mounting plate 31. In other words, the openingedge 2401 of the outer skin 24 is mounted and sealed between the bottomsurface 12 of the seat body 10 and the mounting plate 31.

(5) Selectively couple the mounting structure 32 to the mounting plate31 to form the seating device. By selecting a desired mounting structure32 to mount at the mounting plate 31, the seating device can form as thestool seat or bicycle saddle as an example.

FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the manufacturing method of theseating device which comprises the following steps.

(A) Manufacture the outer skin 24 having the bottom opening 240.Accordingly, the outer skin 24 is made by the steps of (1.1) cutting thetop skin layer 241, the side skin layer 242, and the bottom skin layer243 into predetermined shapes, (1.2) stitching the edge of the top skinlayer 241 with the upper edge of the side skin layer 242, and (1.3)stitching the lower edge of the side skin layer 242 with the edge of thebottom skin layer 243, such that the bottom opening 240 is formed at afree edge of the bottom skin layer 243. It is worth mentioning that whenthe wing supports 20 are integrated with the seat body 10, the top skinlayer 241, the side skin layer 242, and the bottom skin layer 243 of thewing support 20 are integrated with the top skin layer, the side skinlayer, and the bottom skin layer of the seat body 10 to form a toplayer, a side layer and a bottom layer, as shown in FIG. 6 . Therefore,the outer skin 24 also forms a pocket of the seat body 10 having anopening at the bottom layer, wherein the outer skin 24 is constructed tohave the top layer, the side layer, and the bottom layer as such thatthe top skin layer 241, the side skin layer 242, and the bottom skinlayer 243 to enclose the seat body 10 and the wing supports 20 together.It is worth mentioning that the top skin layer 241, the side skin layer242, and the bottom skin layer 243 can be made of same or differentmaterials. Preferably, the top skin layer 241, the side skin layer 242,and the bottom skin layer 243 are made of different materials. The topskin layer 241 is made of breathable material and the side skin layer242 is made of stretchable material.

(B) Manufacture the core member 23 via a foaming process, wherein thecore member 23 is configured to have a top surface, a side surface and abottom surface. The top surface of the core member 23 has a concaveconfiguration. Accordingly, a raw material is disposed in a mold and isfoamed to form the core member 23 via a foaming process. In other words,the core member 23 is shaped and sized according to the mold, such thatthe core member 23 is core elements of the wing supports 20 and a coreelement of the seat body 10 integrated together. Therefore, a portion ofthe core member 23 forms the seat portion 14 of the seat body 10, aportion of the core member 23 forms the head portion 15 of the seat body10, and two portions of the core member 23 form the wing supports 20respectively. In this modification, the core member 23 is coupled at abase plate 231, wherein the base plate 231 is shaped and size slightlysmaller than a size of the bottom surface of the core member 23.According to the preferred embodiment, the core member 23 is made offoam material with a predetermined resilient ability that adapted to bebent down when a downward force is applied on the top surface andadapted to return to the concave configuration of the top surface oncethe downward force is released.

Accordingly, the base plate 231 is initially disposed in the mold andthen the raw material in fluid form is injected into the mold. In oneexample, the mold is constructed to have an upper mold member M1 and alower mold member M2 to define a mold cavity therebetween. The baseplate 231 is placed at the upper mold member while the raw material R isinjected at the lower mold member M2, such that when the upper and lowermold members M1, M2 are coupled with each other to enclose the moldcavity, the raw material is foamed to form the core member 23 in themold cavity via a foaming process. The raw material R is expandedupwardly to the base plate 231. As a result, the core member 23 and thebase plate 231 are attached together.

Accordingly, one or more plate connectors 232 are coupled at the baseplate 231 before the base plate 231 is placed at the upper mold member,wherein an enlarged head portion of the plate connector 232 is securedat the base plate 231 and an elongated body portion of the plateconnector 232 is extended through the base plate 231, such that afterthe raw material is foamed to form the core member 231 for mounting atthe base plate 231, the head portion of the plate connector 232 isembedded and secured in the core member 23 so as to prevent the plateconnector 232 being detached from the base plate 231. Preferably, theplate connector 232 can be a bolt connector.

It is worth mentioning that the top surface of the core member 23 isconstructed to have the top seat supporting surface 11 of the seat body10 and the top buttock supporting surfaces 21 of the wing supports 20.Particularly, the bottom wall of the lower mold member is configured toform the top seat supporting surface 11 of the seat body 10, theindented channel 13 indented on the top seat supporting surface 11, andtwo top buttock supporting surfaces 21 upwardly and sidewardly extendedfrom the top seat supporting surface 11 of the seat body 10. In otherwords, the contour of the bottom wall of the lower mold member matcheswith the contours of the top seat supporting surface 11, the indentedchannel 13 and the top buttock supporting surfaces 21. Therefore, thewing supports 20 are integrally extended from the seat body 10 to form aone-piece integrated member.

(C) Wrap the core member 23 in the outer skin 24. Accordingly, the outerskin 24 is folded inside-out to receive core member 23 therein. Anadhering agent is initially applied on an outer surface of the coremember 23 and/or the inner surface of the outer skin 24. Preferably, anadhering agent is initially applied on the top surface, side surface andbottom surface of the core member 23.

Accordingly, the top skin layer 241 of the outer skin 24 is adhered onthe top surface of the core member 23 edge-to-edge to initially alignand retain the outer skin 24 on the core member 23. In other words, aperipheral edge of the top layer is aligned with a peripheral edge ofthe top surface of the core member 23. For example, a front edge of thetop skin layer 241 of the outer skin 24 is aligned with and adhered to afront edge of the top surface of the core member 23, i.e. a front edgeof the head portion 15 of the seat body 10. Then, a rear edge of the topskin layer 241 of the outer skin 24 is aligned with and adhered to arear edge of the top surface of the core member 23, i.e. a rear end ofthe indented channel 13. Two side edges of the top skin layer 241 of theouter skin 24 are aligned with and adhered to two side edges of the topsurface of the core member 23, i.e. two side edges of the top buttocksupporting surfaces 21 of the wing supports 20. The top layer of theouter skin 24 is stretched to overlap on the top surface of the coremember 23 in a tension manner. In other words, the top layer of theouter skin 24 is overlapped and adhered on the top surface of the coremember 23 in a tension manner. Then, by slightly compressing the coremember 23 and unfolding the side layer and the bottom layer of the outerskin 24, the side skin layer 242 is flipped and folded back to overlapwith and adhere on the side surface of the core member 23. It is worthmentioning that the bottom layer of the outer skin 24 is stretched toensure the side skin layer 242 being overlapped with the side surface ofthe core member 23 edge to edge. Last, the bottom skin layer 243 isfolded to overlap with and adhere on the bottom surface of the coremember 23, such that the opening edge 2401 of the bottom opening 240 isadhered on the bottom surface of the core member 23. Preferably, aperipheral edge portion of the base plate 231 is covered and wrapped bythe bottom skin layer 243.

The step (C) further comprises a step of fastening the bottom skin layer243 of the outer skin 24 at the bottom surface of the core member 23.Accordingly, after the core member 23 is wrapped in the outer skin 24, aplurality of fasteners is fastened along the opening edge 2401 of thebottom opening 240 of the outer skin 24, i.e. a free edge of the bottomskin layer 243, to securely attach the bottom skin layer 243 at thebottom surface of the core member 23. In one embodiment, the fastenersare staplers stapling the bottom skin layer 243 at the bottom surface ofthe core member 23. Preferably, the fasteners are also fastened at theperipheral edge portion of the base plate 231.

(D) Couple the mounting plate 31 at the bottom surface 12 of the seatbody 10. Particularly, the mounting plate 31 is coupled to the baseplate 231 to couple the mounting plate 31 at the bottom surface 12 ofthe seat body 10 via the body portion of the plate connector. It isworth mentioning that since the opening edge 2401 of the bottom opening240 of the outer skin 24 is folded at the bottom surface 12 of the seatbody 10, the opening edge 2401 of the outer skin 24 is mounted andsealed by the mounting plate 31. In other words, the opening edge 2401of the outer skin 24 is mounted and sealed between the bottom surface 12of the seat body 10 and the mounting plate 31. In this modification, theopening edge 2401 of the outer skin 24 is mounted and sealed between thebase plate 231 and the mounting plate 31.

(F) Selectively couple the mounting structure 32 to the mounting plate31 to form the seating device. By selecting a desired mounting structure32, such as bicycle saddle mounting frame, to mount at the mountingplate 31, the seating device can form as the stool seat or bicyclesaddle as an example.

It is worth mentioning that the seating device can be modified, whereinthe seat body 10 further has a ventilation hole 101 for enhancingventilation when the seating device is in use. As shown in FIG. 13 , theventilation hole 101 is a through hole indentedly formed on the top seatsupporting surface 11 and extended through the bottom surface 12. It isworth mentioning that the indented channel 13 is extended to communicatewith the ventilation hole 101, such that air can flow along the indentedchannel 13 to the top seat supporting surface 11 and through theventilation hole 101 from the bottom surface 12 to the top seatsupporting surface 11.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seating device having a top seat supportingsurface, comprising: a seat body; two wing supports sidewardly extendedfrom two sides of said seat body respectively to form an integrated coremember having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface in aconcave configuration; an outer skin layer overlappingly wrapped on atleast said top seat supporting surface of said seating device, whereinsaid outer skin layer comprises a top skin layer, a side skin layer anda bottom skin layer each having a predetermined shape, wherein an edgeof said top skin layer is stitched with an upper edge of said side skinlayer and a lower edge of said side skin layer is stitched with an edgeof said bottom skin layer to form a pocket, wherein said top skin layeris wrapped on said seat body and said wing supports of said core memberby: applying adhesive on one of said core member and said outer skinlayer, folding said outer skin inside-out to receive said core memberthrough a bottom opening of said outer skin layer; adhering said topskin layer of said outer skin layer on said top surface of said coremember edge-to-edge to initially align and retain said outer skin layeron said core member; folding back said side skin layer to adhere saidside skin layer on said side surface of said core member; and adheringsaid bottom skin layer on said bottom surface of said core member,wherein an opening edge of said bottom opening is adhered on said bottomsurface of said core member, such that said top seat supporting surfaceis formed on said top surface of said core member overlapped with saidtop skin layer.
 2. The seating device, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid top surface of core member is configured to form a top buttocksupporting surface of each of said wing supports having a curvatureupwardly curving to a side edge of said top supporting surface andupwardly curving to a rear edge of said top buttock supporting surface.3. The seating device, as recited in claim 2, wherein a front edge ofsaid top skin layer is aligned and adhered with a front edge of said topsurface of said core member, a rear edge of said top skin layer isaligned and adhered with a rear edge of said top surface of said coremember, and two edges of said top skin layer are aligned and adheredwith two side edges of said top surface of said core member respectivelyin order to adhere said top skin layer of said outer skin on said topsurface of said core member edge-to-edge.
 4. The seating device, asrecited in claim 1, wherein a front edge of said top skin layer isaligned and adhered with a front edge of said top surface of said coremember, a rear edge of said top skin layer is aligned and adhered with arear edge of said top surface of said core member, and two edges of saidtop skin layer are aligned and adhered with two side edges of said topsurface of said core member respectively in order to adhere said topskin layer of said outer skin on said top surface of said core memberedge-to-edge.
 5. The seating device, as recited in claim 3, furtheringcomprising a plurality of fasteners fastening said bottom skin layer ofsaid outer skin at said bottom surface of said core member.
 6. Theseating device, as recited in claim 5, wherein an indented channel thatis indentedly formed on said top seat supporting surface from a rear endof said seat body toward a front end along a centerline of said seatbody.
 7. The seating device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said toouter skin layer is made of stretchable material, and said core memberis made of foam material with a predetermined resilient ability thatadapted to be bent down when a downward force is applied on said topsurface and adapted to return to said concave configuration of said topsurface once said downward force is released.
 8. The seating device, asrecited in claim 5, wherein said to outer skin layer is made ofstretchable material, and said core member is made of foam material witha predetermined resilient ability that adapted to be bent down when adownward force is applied on said top surface and adapted to return tosaid concave configuration of said top surface once said downward forceis released.
 9. The seating device, as recited in claim 5, wherein saidfasteners are staplers stapling an opening edge of said bottom openingof said outer skin at said bottom surface of said core member.
 10. Theseating device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said to outer skin layeris made of stretchable material, and said core member is made of foammaterial with a predetermined resilient ability that adapted to be bentdown when a downward force is applied on said top surface and adapted toreturn to said concave configuration of said top surface once saiddownward force is released.
 11. The seating device, as recited in claim3, wherein an indented channel that is indentedly formed on said topseat supporting surface from a rear end of said seat body toward a frontend along a centerline of said seat body.
 12. The seating device, asrecited in claim 3, wherein said to outer skin layer is made ofstretchable material, and said core member is made of foam material witha predetermined resilient ability that adapted to be bent down when adownward force is applied on said top surface and adapted to return tosaid concave configuration of said top surface once said downward forceis released.
 13. The seating device, as recited in claim 2, furtheringcomprising a plurality of fasteners fastening said bottom skin layer ofsaid outer skin at said bottom surface of said core member.
 14. Theseating device, as recited in claim 13, wherein said fasteners arestaplers stapling an opening edge of said bottom opening of said outerskin at said bottom surface of said core member.
 15. The seating device,as recited in claim 2, wherein an indented channel that is indentedlyformed on said top seat supporting surface from a rear end of said seatbody toward a front end along a centerline of said seat body.
 16. Theseating device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said to outer skin layeris made of stretchable material, and said core member is made of foammaterial with a predetermined resilient ability that adapted to be bentdown when a downward force is applied on said top surface and adapted toreturn to said concave configuration of said top surface once saiddownward force is released.
 17. The seating device, as recited in claim1, furthering comprising a plurality of fasteners fastening said bottomskin layer of said outer skin at said bottom surface of said coremember.
 18. The seating device, as recited in claim 17, wherein saidfasteners are staplers stapling an opening edge of said bottom openingof said outer skin at said bottom surface of said core member.
 19. Theseating device, as recited in claim 1, wherein an indented channel thatis indentedly formed on said top seat supporting surface from a rear endof said seat body toward a front end along a centerline of said seatbody.
 20. The seating device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said toouter skin layer is made of stretchable material, and said core memberis made of foam material with a predetermined resilient ability thatadapted to be bent down when a downward force is applied on said topsurface and adapted to return to said concave configuration of said topsurface once said downward force is released.